tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239Sun, 04 Dec 2016 13:17:15 +0000Tip TuesdayMagic KingdomPhoto FridayEpcotDisney's Hollywood StudiosAnimal KingdomHolidays at WDWWorld ShowcaseDisneylandChristmasDisneyhidden MickeysD23Marathon weekendD23 ExpoHalf-MarathonFastPassRestaurant ReviewMain Street USATomorrowlandWalt Disney WorldDowntown DisneyGrand FloridianAdventurelandFantasyland improvementsFull-MarathonPixarDecember 2008 WDW tripPhotoPassPinsPolynesian ResortToy Story ManiaWDW Radio ShowmonorailContemporary ResortMickey MouseOsborne Family Spectacle of Dancing LightsRunDisneySpace MountaincharactersfireworksnighttimeADR'sAnnual PassesCinderella CastleDisney Dining PlanFantasylandKingdom KeepersLiberty SquareNorwayPin TradingWishesdiningmonorail accidentrainresortswet weatherAmerican Idol ExperienceBoardwalkDisney California AdventureDisney Cruise LineDisney LegendsHall of PresidentsHaunted MansionIlluminationsInnoventionsKim PossibleMain Street Electrical ParadeMarvelRidley PearsonSorcerers of the Magic KingdomStar ToursStar Wars WeekendsSwan and Dolphin ResortsparadesAre you 23?Beach ClubDVCDeluxe ResortsDisney's Magical ExpressFlower and Garden FestivalHolidays Around the WorldIt's a Small WorldMickey's Very Merry Christmas PartyPrincess and the FrogSeven Seas LagoonTest TrackToy StoryWDW Radiostar warsticket pricestouring plansvacation planning4th of JulyAnimal Kingdom LodgeAvatarDisney Mom's PanelDisneyDaddyDriving to WDWEpic MickeyExtra Magic HoursFood and Wine FestivalFrontierlandFrozenGrand 1Japan PavilionKilimanjaro SafarisLiving with the LandMagicMeetsMarty SklarNarnia moviesPirates of the CaribbeanPixar placeSpaceship EarthStitch's Supersonic CelebrationThanksgivingTinkerbellUnited Kingdom Pavilionetiquettenightrope dropvinylmationABCAladdinAmerican AdventureBay LakeBehind the SeedsBuzz Lightyear's Space Ranger SpinCanadaCandlelight ProcessionalCaptain EOCarsCars LandCelebrationsDisney FloristDisney Vacation ClubDisney blogsDisneyWorldTrivia Dream TeamDivineDreamWorksDriving at WDWDumboESPNESPN Wide World of SportsESPN the weekendEasterExpedition EverestFastPass+Finding Nemo: The MusicalFrance pavilionFree DiningGet a Disney DayGive a DayHong Hong DisneylandIndiana Jones Stunt SpectacularItaly pavilionJack Sparrow Pirate TutorialJungle CruiseKidCotKouzzinaLinesLuxo Jr.MalestromMapsMousefestNew Year's EvePark attendancePixie HollowRadiator Springs RacersRaytheonRose and CrownSouthern Living MagazineSpirit of Aloha Dinner ShowStar Wars LandSteve BarrettTTATTCTronVerizonWhat will you Celebrate?Winter Summerlandbiggest Disney fanbookingbooksbus servicecheck-inchildrencold weatherconciergediscountsdisney musicferryboatflag retreat ceremonyguests with disabilitiesheathurricanesonline ADR systempark safetypenny pressesshoppingspecial offersspectatorspectromagictippingtransportationwait timeswater attractions1900 Park Fare20092009 review2010 promotion20K Leagues Under the Sea40th anniversary9/11AAAABC FamilyAdventurer's ClubAgent P World Showcase AdventureAkershusAlice in WonderlandAmerican Heritage GalleryAnimation AcademyApril Fools DayArielAriel's GrottoArt of Animation ResortArt of DisneyAuthorized Disney Vacation PlannerAvengersBambiBeaches and CreamBig Thunder Mountain RailroadBlizzard BeachBog IgerBomaBraveCape May CafeCast MembersCastleCat CoraCelebrate The MagicCentral Florida GreenwayCharacters in FlightChef Mickey'sCinderella's Royal TableClub CoolClub LevelCrystal PalaceDapper DansDay 1Dick CookDinosaurDisney ChannelDisney InteractiveDisney LingoDisney Movie RewardsDisney SpringsDisney StoreDisney UniverseDisney detailsDisney's California AdventureDisney's Wide World of SportsDollar coinsDon EdgrenDuffyEarl of SandwichEarth DayEl Capitan TheatreElectrical Water PageantExpoFairfax FriesFantasiaFantasia GardensFantasmicFestival of the Lion KingFigmentFineas and FerbFlying to WDWFort WildernessFountainFountain of NationsFriendship boatsGarden GroveGeneral MotorsGrand Fiesta TourGreat Movie RideGreat Piggy Bank AdventureGuest ServicesH1N1 virusHappy ThanksgivingHarbor BoulevardHawaii resortHigh School MusicalHollywood Brown DerbyHollywood and VineImagination PavilionInjun Joe CaveInternational GatewayJim HillJohn LasseterJohnny DeppJonas BrothersJourney into Imagination with FigmentJoyfulKali River RapidsKris AllenLEGOLa NoubaLady and the TrampLakersLand pavilionLe CellierLights of WonderLucasLunch with an ImagineerMagic BandsMagic Your Way packageMany Adventures of Winnie the PoohMatterhornMickey's Not So Scary Halloween PartyMiley CyrusMission: SpaceMiyukiMobile MagicModerage ResortsMonsters UniversityMouse Fan TravelMousekemeetsMuppetsMy Disney Girl Perfectly Princess Tea PartyNarcoosee'sNational D-Day MemorialNational HarborNational Museum of American HistoryNational Performing Arts FestivalNetpalOff KilterOnce Upon a TimeOne Man's DreamOscarsPUSHPandora - the World of AvatarParadise PierPark InformationParty for the PlanetPhineas and FerbPhotoBookPhotoPass+Pirates LairPirates LeaguePlanning DVDPop CenturyPower BagPremier PassportPrep and LandingQuizzesRefreshment PortRelaxing in the parksRice creamRolly CrumpRoy O. DisneyRussi TaylorSea WorldShades of GreenShanghai DisneylandSkywaySmithsonianSmokey BearSoarinSoccerSounds Like Summer concert seriesStave ChurchStitch's Great EscapeStories from a Theme Park InsiderStormalong BayStorybook CircusStorybrook CircusSum of All ThrillsSwine FluTSATables in WonderlandThe Lion KingTinkerbell's TreasuresTom Sawyer IslandTony's Town Square RestaurantTorguga TavernTouringPlans.comTower of TerrorTown SquareToy Story 3Toy Story LandTree of LifeUnder the Sea - Journey of the Little MermaidUpValue ResortsVictoria and Albert'sViking ShipVikingsVillasVoices of LibertyVoyage of the Little MermaidWBHSWDBJWDW MousengerWalk Around the WorldWall-EWalt Disney RailroadWalt Disney StudiosWalter CronkiteWashington DCWayne AllwineWelcome to Disney DaddyWiiWilderness LodgeWizarding World of Harry PotterWonderWorld of ColorWorld of DisneyYacht ClubYetiairport securityanimationarcadesartassistive technologyattraction reviewbacklot tourbackpacksbus accidentcastingcheck-outcollectingconstructioncontestscookingcostumescyberbullydeliveryeconomyemergencyendurance seriesenvironmentfire preventionfirst aidfishinggamesgingerbreadgolfiPhonein-room diningkidslarge familieslaundry serviceslet the memories beginlost and foundmagazinesmail ordermedical needsmeet and greetsmemoriesmerchandisemexicomothersmouseventnational princess weekoil spillone year lateronline resort check-inopening dayoutdoor moviespark closurepark hoppingparkingpassportpoolsprincessesrefurbromancerulesrumorssafetyscary attractionsshoessingle rider linesnackssnowteatheme park awardstravel agenciesveteranswarm weatherwater at the parkswater parkswelcome showwindowswine and dine half marathonDisneyDaddyBlog about Walt Disney World and other topics related to Disney.http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)Blogger694125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-5950026395741722562Wed, 20 Apr 2016 15:52:00 +00002016-04-20T11:52:16.395-04:00Disney's Hollywood Studiosstar warsHollywood Studios to undergo major changes in 2016 - so now what do you do?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v5blSaBOlFk/Vc-X3vik5FI/AAAAAAAAArw/6ZTIOhxXvMgfn0FsK4eHmsxHzS9L-OpgACKgB/s1600/StarWarsLand-concept3-resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v5blSaBOlFk/Vc-X3vik5FI/AAAAAAAAArw/6ZTIOhxXvMgfn0FsK4eHmsxHzS9L-OpgACKgB/s400/StarWarsLand-concept3-resize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new Millennium Falcon-based attraction is just one of many new additions for the upcoming Star Wars land.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />With all the changes coming to Disney Hollywood Studios, there's a bit of uncertainty about how (or if) guests should visit this park.<br /><br />While there's a lot of work going on, it's still well worth a visit to DHS.&nbsp; For one, be sure to check out the Star Wars Launch Bay.&nbsp; Here you can meet Chewbacca and (if you date) Kylo Ren.&nbsp; There are lots of movie props and reproductions to see.&nbsp; Plus, you can try your hand at the Star Wars Infinity video game.<br /><br />Speaking of Star Wars, Star Tours has been updated again to include a new scene from <i>The Force Awakens</i>. Even better, the new Symphony in the Stars:&nbsp; A Galactic Spectacular fireworks show is running most nights and it's well worth seeing!&nbsp; Fireworks and Star Wars music - what could be better?<br /><br />Many of the popular attractions, such as Toy Story Mania, the Tower of Terror and Rock-n-Roller Coaster are still up and running, so be sure to check them out.<br /><br />There may be some shifting traffic patterns while construction is ongoing, so be patient and allow a bit of extra time to get to the park (whether driving or using Disney transportation).<br /><br />So yes, there's some disruption at DHS, but it's still well worth a visit.&nbsp; You never know when you might luck into a test run of a new attraction or a soft opening!http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2016/04/hollywood-studios-to-undergo-major.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-1451434806956582475Wed, 20 Apr 2016 15:43:00 +00002016-04-20T11:43:03.923-04:00EpcotFrozenNorwayFrozen Ever After attraction to open in June 2016<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YqI8QG1tM4s/VxejSFExumI/AAAAAAAAA0k/0RIt4bfVPtAygcmyCT4lQ7tSmKP96V5RwCK4B/s1600/Image_WDW_Frozen-Ever-After-Rendering_2015_06.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YqI8QG1tM4s/VxejSFExumI/AAAAAAAAA0k/0RIt4bfVPtAygcmyCT4lQ7tSmKP96V5RwCK4B/s400/Image_WDW_Frozen-Ever-After-Rendering_2015_06.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a><br /><br />For the first time in forever, guests can explore the kingdom of Arendelle when “Frozen Ever After” opens in the Norway Pavilion in June 2016, according to the Disney Parks Blog. This family-friendly adventure picks up after the events in the blockbuster hit “Frozen” and celebrates a “Summer Snow Day.”<br /><br />A stone archway entrance greets guests to the kingdom of Arendelle. Queen Elsa, Princess Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, trolls and Marshmallow join them on their boat journey through the frozen willow forest, past Troll Valley and up to the North Mountain to Elsa’s ice palace.<br /><br />After disembarking, guests can meet the regal sisters in the cozy Royal Sommerhus. Inspired by a cabin in the countryside of Norway, the sisters have opened their summer home for visitors.<br /><br />Fun Facts:<br /><ul><li>Frozen Ever After is the first Frozen-themed attraction and the Royal Sommerhus is Elsa’s and Anna’s permanent meet and greet at Disney Parks.</li><li>Guests will witness Elsa’s ice magic on Frozen Ever After.</li><li>Composers Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez created new lyrics to the cherished Frozen film songs.</li><li>All of the original voice talent from the film returned and recorded dialogue and songs for the attraction</li><li>WDI traveled to Norway to research architecture, décor and artifacts; guests will find their inspiration in the Royal Sommerhus.</li><li>The design of Royal Sommerhus and the surrounding area is modeled after a traditional Norwegian cabin in Trondheim.</li></ul><br />http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2016/04/frozen-ever-after-attraction-to-open-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-3934521746142700838Fri, 16 Oct 2015 19:34:00 +00002015-10-16T15:34:36.379-04:00castingCasting company working on new Disney Parks Christmas special - and they want to hear from you!<div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7395" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7416" style="font-size: 13px;">I get many requests to share announcements on this blog.&nbsp; Most requests I ignore.&nbsp; You don't want to be bothered with such stuff and the last thing I want to do is perpetuate a possible scam.&nbsp; This one's a bit different.&nbsp; Like the Disney's Biggest Fan contest I talked about several years ago, sometimes you have to put your hat in the ring to see if something magical might pop out.</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7416" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7416" style="font-size: 13px;">A group called The Casting Firm contacted me asking to pass along the following announcement.&nbsp; At first I did what I usually do - I ignored it.&nbsp; Then I did some checking.&nbsp; Based on what I could discover, this group is legit.&nbsp; This group has worked on many Disney-related projects, either for ABC or other Disney networks.</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7416" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7416" style="font-size: 13px;">So why not give it a shot!!!</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7416" style="font-size: 13px;">&nbsp; </div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7416" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7416" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7416" style="font-size: 13px;">NOW CASTING NATIONWIDE:</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7396" style="font-size: 13px;">MAJOR NETWORK HOLIDAY SPECIAL!</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7397" style="font-size: 13px;">HAVE YOU HAD AN UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT AT ONE OF THE DISNEY PARKS OR PROPERTIES?</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7398" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7399" style="font-size: 13px;">A Major Network &amp; the Casting Firm are seeking couples, families and friends who’ve had an incredible Disney experience…and have a story to share that will touch the hearts of America!</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7400" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7401" style="font-size: 13px;">· Have you had an epic, grand, joyful or love-filled moment at a Disney Park, Resort, or on a Disney Cruise?"</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;">· Did you get engaged or married at a Disney property….or are you planning to?</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7402" style="font-size: 13px;">· Was the first time you met Mickey, Goofy or any Disney character a truly unforgettable moment?</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;">· Do you have a loved one serving in the military with a special connection to Disney who deserves to be recognized for their selflessness?</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7414" style="font-size: 13px;">· Is there a special reason you or your family wants to go back to one of the Disney parks or properties?</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7403" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7413" style="font-size: 13px;">The Casting Firm is looking for inspirational stories from couples, families, or friends to be part of an inspirational holiday special that will air on a Major Network!</div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7412" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7404" style="font-size: 13px;">SUBMIT or NOMINATE someone today at:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thecastingfirm.com/Disney" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.theCastingFirm.com/Disney</a></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="yiv5411972488MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023253409_7405" style="font-size: 13px;">Or, email them at CastME@theCastingFirm.com, and include a Contact Number, Photos, and share your story.</div>http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/10/casting-company-working-on-new-disney.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-7167317907969427740Sat, 15 Aug 2015 22:51:00 +00002015-08-15T18:51:13.517-04:00Animal KingdomAvatarD23 ExpoPandora - the World of AvatarPandora - The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom to include new attractions<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/PWA181500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/PWA181500.jpg" height="163" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy Disney.&nbsp; All rights reserved.</td></tr></tbody></table>At the D23 Expo today, Disney announced the official name for the new Avatar-based expansion currently under construction at Animal Kingdom - "Pandora - the World of Avatar."&nbsp; This new land will include two new attractions, the Avatar Flight of Passage, in which guests will soar on a flying Banshee over the world of Pandora.&nbsp; Also, the "Rivers of Light," currently under construction, will offer a new evening show featuring lanterns, water screens and more.<br /><br />Disney also announced the Kilimanjaro Safaris will be expanded to offer new sunset scenes and will include two new species - African wild dogs and hyenas.<br /><br />http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/08/pandora-world-of-avatar-at-animal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-6399520278454122126Sat, 15 Aug 2015 22:43:00 +00002015-08-15T18:45:18.974-04:00D23 ExpoDisney's Hollywood StudiosToy StoryToy Story LandToy Story ManiaToy Story Land coming to Disney Hollywood Studios<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/TSL181008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/TSL181008.jpg" height="222" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy Disney.&nbsp; All rights reserved.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />At the D23 Expo, Disney today announced that Toy Story Land will be coming to Disney Hollywood Studios.&nbsp; This new eleven-acre land, based on the existing Toy Story Mania! will include two new attractions - a Little Green Men alien flying saucers attraction and a new family-friendly roller coaster based on Slinky the dog.<br /><br />http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/08/toy-story-land-coming-to-disney.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-8131943090187023000Sat, 15 Aug 2015 19:51:00 +00002015-08-15T15:51:12.582-04:00Disney's Hollywood StudiosDisneylandstar warsStar Wars LandWalt Disney WorldIt's official! The Force to expand at Disneyland and Walt Disney World<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OIgCdQgK2iE/Vc-X24iqKcI/AAAAAAAAArc/2hRQCcOKAwk/s1600/StarWarsLand-concept1-resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OIgCdQgK2iE/Vc-X24iqKcI/AAAAAAAAArc/2hRQCcOKAwk/s400/StarWarsLand-concept1-resize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy Disney.&nbsp; All rights reserved.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kCEP1-gXAvM/Vc-X3ZU_QdI/AAAAAAAAArk/BGQ-D3BDGCs/s1600/StarWarsLand-concept2-resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kCEP1-gXAvM/Vc-X3ZU_QdI/AAAAAAAAArk/BGQ-D3BDGCs/s400/StarWarsLand-concept2-resize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy Disney.&nbsp; All rights reserved.</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v5blSaBOlFk/Vc-X3vik5FI/AAAAAAAAArs/GFmyMtyNjE8/s1600/StarWarsLand-concept3-resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v5blSaBOlFk/Vc-X3vik5FI/AAAAAAAAArs/GFmyMtyNjE8/s400/StarWarsLand-concept3-resize.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy Disney.&nbsp; All rights reserved.</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Today at the D23 EXPO 2015, The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger announced to an audience of more than 7,500 fans that Star Wars-themed lands will be coming to Disneyland park in Anaheim, Calif., and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., allowing Star Wars fans to step into the stories from a galaxy far, far away.<br /><br />Ambitious plans to bring Star Wars to life in the two parks include creating Disney’s largest single themed land expansions ever at 14 acres each, transporting guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port and one of the last stops before wild space where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life.<br /><br />“I am thrilled to announce the next chapter in the long and exciting history between Disney Parks and Star Wars,” said Iger. “We are creating a jaw-dropping new world that represents our largest single themed land expansion ever. These new lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will transport guests to a whole new Star Wars planet, including an epic Star Wars adventure that puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.”<br /><br />These authentic lands will have two signature attractions. Along with the thrilling battle experience, another attraction puts guests behind the controls of one of the most recognizable ships in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon, as they take on a customized secret mission.<br /><br />Iger also shared concept images of the Star Wars-themed lands, giving fans a glimpse at what is to come for Disney parks.<br /><br />The partnership between Disney and Lucasfilm dates back to 1987, when the successful Star Tours attraction, inspired by George Lucas’s legendary Star Wars film series, opened at Disneyland. The attraction was then redesigned, emerging as “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” in 2011 and featuring more than 50 different story outcomes and the possibility to visit five different planets.<br /><br />For 60 years, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has been delighting millions of people with fantastic storytelling, exceptional entertainment and extraordinary experiences, creating places where guests can make life-long memories with their friends and families. This announcement marks an unprecedented time of growth with exciting developments happening around the world – from Disneyland Resort’s Diamond Celebration to the anticipated opening of Shanghai Disney Resort in China.<br />http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/08/its-official-force-to-expand-at.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-8939245191287333739Fri, 14 Aug 2015 23:39:00 +00002015-08-14T19:39:05.297-04:00AdventurelandD23D23 ExpoJungle CruiseMagic KingdomJungle Cruise Skipper Canteen to open at WDW<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/buciewho743892-613x454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/buciewho743892-613x454.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyright Disney.&nbsp; All rights reserved.</td></tr></tbody></table>Here's some of our first news coming out of the D23 Expo 2015 in Anaheim!<br /><br />Disney has announced that the Jungle Cruise Navigation Company Ltd. Skipper Canteen will open in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom.&nbsp; According to the official Disney Parks Blog, this new restaurant will open in late 2015.&nbsp; Based on the artist rendering above, it looks like this will go into the space around what was the Aloha Isle.<br /><br />The restaurant will be staffed by Jungle Cruise skippers, so you can bet there will be plenty more bad jokes coming!http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/08/jungle-cruise-skipper-canteen-to-open.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-5240892656034698250Thu, 02 Apr 2015 02:24:00 +00002015-04-01T22:25:50.688-04:00April Fools DayApril Fools Day - Disney Style!Each year, on the first of April, plenty of incredible, unbelievable and utterly amazing news stories cross the web.&nbsp; So today being the first of April, let's look at some of the more amazing revelations announced today and then you can determine which one was the best and most creative!<br /><br /><br />Guardians of the Star Wars Galaxy Announced!<br /><a href="http://thedisneyblog.com/2015/04/01/guardians-of-the-star-wars-galaxy-announced/">http://thedisneyblog.com/2015/04/01/guardians-of-the-star-wars-galaxy-announced/</a><br /><br />Walt Disney to make appearances during Disneyland's 60th anniversary<br /><a href="http://disneyexaminer.com/2015/04/breaking-news-walt-disney-to-make-appearances-during-disneyland-60-anniversary/">http://disneyexaminer.com/2015/04/breaking-news-walt-disney-to-make-appearances-during-disneyland-60-anniversary/</a><br /><br />Disney announces plans for Hollywood Studios (Disney's Adventure Park)<br /><a href="http://www.disneyfanatic.com/breaking-news-disney-announces-their-plans-for-hollywood-studios/">http://www.disneyfanatic.com/breaking-news-disney-announces-their-plans-for-hollywood-studios/</a><br /><br />Olaf's Frozen Escape coming to Magic Kingdom in 2016<br /><a href="http://blog.touringplans.com/2015/04/01/olafs-frozen-escape-coming-to-magic-kingdom-in-2016/">http://blog.touringplans.com/2015/04/01/olafs-frozen-escape-coming-to-magic-kingdom-in-2016/</a><br /><br />Cinderella's Castle to be renamed for Elsa<br /><a href="http://www.disneydining.com/cinderellas-castle-to-be-renamed-for-elsa/">http://www.disneydining.com/cinderellas-castle-to-be-renamed-for-elsa/</a><br /><br />Disney cancels partnership with Coca-Cola, signs agreement with Pepsi<br /><a href="http://www.chipandco.com/disney-cancels-partnership-cocacola-signs-agreement-pepsi-210522/">http://www.chipandco.com/disney-cancels-partnership-cocacola-signs-agreement-pepsi-210522/</a><br /><br />Disney buys Star Trek<br /><a href="http://techgnotic.deviantart.com/journal/Disney-Buys-Star-Trek-492977809">http://techgnotic.deviantart.com/journal/Disney-Buys-Star-Trek-492977809</a><br /><br />Powerline to play a secret show<br /><a href="http://blogs.disney.com/oh-my-disney/2014/04/01/powerline-to-play-a-secret-show/?cmp=SMC%7Cgoo_mov%7Cnatural%7Cblgomd%7COMDApril%7CFB%7Cpowerline-AGoofyMovie%7CInHouse%7C2015-04-01%7Crepost%7C%7Cesocialmedia%7C%7C">http://blogs.disney.com/oh-my-disney/2014/04/01/powerline-to-play-a-secret-show/?cmp=SMC%7Cgoo_mov%7Cnatural%7Cblgomd%7COMDApril%7CFB%7Cpowerline-AGoofyMovie%7CInHouse%7C2015-04-01%7Crepost%7C%7Cesocialmedia%7C%7C</a><br /><br />First Look:&nbsp; Disney Parks to send guests to Pluto<br /><a href="http://blogs.disney.com/oh-my-disney/2015/04/01/first-look-disney-parks-to-send-guests-to-pluto/">http://blogs.disney.com/oh-my-disney/2015/04/01/first-look-disney-parks-to-send-guests-to-pluto/</a><br /><br />Cars Land to open Summer 2017 (Disneytoon Studios)<br /><a href="http://behindthemouse.com/cars-land-to-open-summer-2017/">http://behindthemouse.com/cars-land-to-open-summer-2017/</a><br /><br />Judge bans Frozen from all theme parks<br /><a href="http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2015/04/01/judge-fools-all-banning-frozen-from-theme-parks-and-agreeing-with-frozen-is-my-life-story-author/">http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2015/04/01/judge-fools-all-banning-frozen-from-theme-parks-and-agreeing-with-frozen-is-my-life-story-author/</a><br /><br />Disney/Pixar presents "X-Wings" trailer<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ3n_D1zBrg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ3n_D1zBrg</a><br /><br /><br />So which did you think was the best April Fools Day gag?&nbsp; Post a comment!!http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/04/april-fools-day-disney-style.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-8597125307759125453Sat, 07 Mar 2015 03:00:00 +00002015-03-07T19:10:46.265-05:00Adventurelandhidden MickeysMagic KingdomPhoto FridayPhoto Friday - an Adventureland hidden Mickey?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TILYWZBru-M/VPuSlRIj3eI/AAAAAAAAAq4/NT1KjS3kGCA/s1600/adventureland-piratetutorialHM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TILYWZBru-M/VPuSlRIj3eI/AAAAAAAAAq4/NT1KjS3kGCA/s1600/adventureland-piratetutorialHM.jpg" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time for another Photo Friday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once again, we return to shots from my January 2015 trip to Walt Disney World.&nbsp; As regular readers of this blog know, I like to look for new hidden Mickeys.&nbsp; I was walking through Adventureland near Pirates of the Caribbean, and glanced at the stage where the Jack Sparrow Pirate Tutorial takes place.&nbsp; I happened to notice the coconuts on the left side of the stage were arranged in a way that could form a classic hidden Mickey.&nbsp; It is best seen when on the stage.&nbsp; So a snapped a few photos and I'll put it up for your thoughts.&nbsp; Is this a hidden Mickey?&nbsp; Post a comment and share your thoughts.</div><br />http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/03/photo-friday-adventureland-hidden-mickey.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-8952926596861179190Sat, 28 Feb 2015 03:00:00 +00002015-03-01T13:17:26.596-05:00EpcotGrand Fiesta Tourhidden MickeysmexicoWorld ShowcasePhoto Friday: Viva Donald!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O4KH1UOgTmc/VPNXFzQQZ8I/AAAAAAAAAqQ/CBmy7Ha-5yI/s1600/Epcot-Mexico-vivaDonald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O4KH1UOgTmc/VPNXFzQQZ8I/AAAAAAAAAqQ/CBmy7Ha-5yI/s1600/Epcot-Mexico-vivaDonald.jpg" title="" /></a></div><br />For this week's Photo Friday, I thought I'd share a random shot from my most recent trip to Walt Disney World (January, 2015).&nbsp; This is from the Grand Fiesta Tour attraction at the Mexico pavilion.&nbsp; Every time I ride this attraction, I make sure to check on a well-known hidden Mickey, that is shown in this shot.&nbsp; Can you see it?<br /><br />Enjoy and Viva Donald!!http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/02/photo-friday-viva-donald.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-6033175262199925082Tue, 24 Feb 2015 23:44:00 +00002015-02-26T16:18:46.218-05:00FastPass+Magic BandsMagic Bands and FastPass+<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOZKFbOmSXU/VOyDutcXZ-I/AAAAAAAAAqA/ZEmptZ4kAhw/s1600/magicband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOZKFbOmSXU/VOyDutcXZ-I/AAAAAAAAAqA/ZEmptZ4kAhw/s1600/magicband.jpg" height="320" width="304" /></a></div>Welcome back for another Tip Tuesday!<br /><br />This week, I wanted to get into the differences between Magic Bands and FastPass+.&nbsp; Many in the Disney fan community have strong feelings (both positive and negative) about Magic Bands and FastPass+.&nbsp; Many guests can easily think that the two go together, which is not exactly the case.&nbsp; So I thought I'd go through what each does and how they can be related.<br /><br /><u><b>MagicBand</b></u><br />Put simply, a Magic Band is the same thing as the old Key to the World card guests used to use during a stay at Walt Disney World.&nbsp; Instead of a plastic card, guests receive a rubber-like bracelet.&nbsp; It uses the same RFID technology as the old card.&nbsp; Just like the old card, the band serves as the guest's room key, charging privileges and PhotoPass (now Memory Maker) ID.&nbsp; Also, just like the old card, the band can hold park tickets, if tickets are loaded onto the account.&nbsp; So why did Disney go to Magic Bands instead of the cards?&nbsp; For one thing, the cards are much easier to lose or misplace.&nbsp; It is far easier to have&nbsp; your ticket, room key and everything else right on your wrist.&nbsp; Oh, one thing about security in case you're worried about someone stealing your band and using it to charge purchases or get into the parks - guests must still use a pin number when charging and the biometric scanners are still used at the parks, so there's really no point in stealing a band.&nbsp; If a band is stolen, Disney can very quickly deactivate that band, making it truly useless. <br /><br /><u><b>FastPass+</b></u><br />In the old days (I'm starting to sound like some old guy), guests inserted their ticket card into a machine and out came a FastPass ticket allowing the guest to return at a certain time.&nbsp; There was one hitch, though -- the guest had to enter the park and go (sometimes run) to the FastPass machines to get a pass.&nbsp; There were plenty of times where the line for the FastPass machines were longer than the standby lines in the attraction itself, especially at park opening.&nbsp; So Disney created FastPass+, which essentially, is an advance reservation system for FastPasses.&nbsp; Guests go online to the MyDisneyExperience site and make reservations for up to three attractions in one park for a certain day (Disney is tweaking this site and it is likely that soon guests will be able to get passes for attractions and different parks in the same day).&nbsp; These advanced reservations can be done up to sixty days in advance, eliminating the need to be in the parks and to rush to an attraction, or at least that was the theory.&nbsp; Guests are still running around the parks at rope drop.&nbsp; The one benefit here is that guests can use the MyDisneyExperience app while in the parks to change their FastPass reservations (either change the time or the attraction).&nbsp; When it's time for a guest to visit a certain attraction, they place their Magic Band against a reader and are then permitted to enter.<br /><br />There is one problem with FastPass+ that, I understand, Disney is working to address.&nbsp; Once the guest has used up their three advance FastPasses, they can go to one of several FastPass kiosks located in the parks to get additional passes, but they can't do this online using the MyDisneyExperience app.&nbsp; However, what's happened is that, again, the lines for the kiosks are getting longer than the standby lines themselves.&nbsp;&nbsp;Apparently, Disney is working to modify the app so guests can schedule additional passes online instead of having to wait in a long line for a kiosk - and those lines are LONG!&nbsp; When I was at WDW during Marathon weekend (which is a slower time of year), some people were waiting nearly an hour just to get to a kiosk.<br /><br />Many of the guests who have problems with the Magic Bands are actually upset with FastPass+ and not the bands themselves.&nbsp; I have to agree with some of the criticisms.&nbsp; In all, FastPass+ is a pretty good idea, but it does require some tweaking, particularly once a guest has used up all the original passes.&nbsp; Further, Disney needs to add the ability to book passes for attractions in multiple parks in the same day.<br /><br />As the Magic Band technology spreads to other parks around the world - Disneyland is due to start using Magic Bands in the near future, it's important for these kinks to be worked out.&nbsp; One thing remains the same - that families can have fun together and can even do so in a spontaneous way.&nbsp; There's so much to do at Walt Disney World that isn't covered by FastPasses, as I am constantly reminding people.<br /><br />What are your thoughts about Magic Bands and FastPass+?<br /><br /><i>(correction:&nbsp; FastPass+ reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance, not 6 months - my error!!&nbsp; The article has been corrected above.) </i>http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/02/magic-bands-and-fastpass.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-1037613441784479702Sat, 21 Feb 2015 03:12:00 +00002015-02-20T22:12:49.095-05:00Annual Passesticket pricesIf there's one thing you can count on...It's that Disney will raise the prices of tickets at their theme parks.<br /><br />According to several published reports, this weekend, Disney will raise the prices of tickets at Walt Disney World.&nbsp; This year, Disney is crossing a major milestone - the $100 mark.&nbsp; A one-day, one-park ticket for the Magic Kingdom will now cost $105 per person.&nbsp; This is the first time in history any single-day Disney park ticket has cost more than $100.&nbsp; While this price increase is not surprising, it is in another way - crossing the $100 mark is a big deal in the minds of consumers.&nbsp;<br /><br />Take a look at this chart of one-day, one-park prices since this type of ticket became available:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXNM0vNGHcE/VOf1F9HAukI/AAAAAAAAApo/bOGVyRV92GE/s1600/MKticketpriceschart-1982-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXNM0vNGHcE/VOf1F9HAukI/AAAAAAAAApo/bOGVyRV92GE/s1600/MKticketpriceschart-1982-2015.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click for a larger view.</td></tr></tbody></table>What's readily apparent is that ticket prices have been steadily increasing at a rate of anywhere from 0 to 20% each year, with the average price increase being about 6%.&nbsp; This kind of annual rate increase is not common in the world of business.&nbsp; The price for most items hasn't risen a steady 6% each year for the past 33 years.&nbsp; For instance, gas in 1982 cost about $1.19 a gallon and milk cost about $1.49 a gallon.&nbsp; If gas prices followed this same rate of increase, gas would cost about $9.43 a gallon and a gallon of milk would be more than $14!&nbsp;<br /><br />It is true that even at $105, a one-day, one-park ticket is a better overall value than, say, a round of golf at your local course.&nbsp; With greens fees today running at least around $50 a person, the cost-per-hour for golf is far high higher than that of a day at the Magic Kingdom.&nbsp; Even so, I continue to be concerned that Disney is slowly pricing itself out of range for lower income families.&nbsp; That one-in-a-lifetime trip may become a not-in-my-lifetime trip because the prices are getting so high.<br /><br />Attendance is just as high as it has ever been, so guests seem to be willing to pay the constantly higher price.&nbsp; I'm just worried that there will, someday, be that point where too much becomes too much.http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/02/if-theres-one-thing-you-can-count-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-6181383570445684272Wed, 18 Feb 2015 04:22:00 +00002015-02-18T12:38:53.420-05:00WDW MousengerDisneyDaddy returns to WDW Mousenger podcastI had the opportunity to again join my friend Rod Wheaton on his <a href="http://wdwmousenger.com/episode-40-doin-the-dopey-with-disney-daddy-chuck-lionberger/">WDW Mousenger</a> podcast.&nbsp; We talked all about RunDisney and why we enjoy Disney running events.&nbsp; Be sure to tune into an upcoming edition of <a href="http://wdwmousenger.com/episode-40-doin-the-dopey-with-disney-daddy-chuck-lionberger/">WDW Mousenger</a> to catch the show!<br /><br /><br />http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2015/02/disneydaddy-returns-to-wdw-mousenger.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-726326579468463901Fri, 21 Nov 2014 21:55:00 +00002014-11-21T16:55:39.521-05:00D23D23 ExpoD23 eliminates silver memberships, to offer Gold Family option in 2015In an email to members today, D23, the official Disney fan club, announced they will no longer offer D23 Silver memberships as of today.&nbsp; Current D23 Silver memberships will still be honored until renewal time when those members will be offered the opportunity to upgrade to a Gold or Gold Family account.&nbsp; For those who may not recall, a D23 Silver membership included an official membership card, membership certificate, access to D23 special events and D23 special discounts and member access D23.com as well as extra special surprises.<br /><br />In addition, D23 announced they will offer a new Gold Family membership, where a member can include up to three guests at various D23 events.<br /><br />To read the entire email, click on the photo below.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hPkpv6WQyoU/VG-0rwzpZeI/AAAAAAAAApY/ol_rRCh3-50/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-11-21%2Bat%2B4.46.08%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hPkpv6WQyoU/VG-0rwzpZeI/AAAAAAAAApY/ol_rRCh3-50/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-11-21%2Bat%2B4.46.08%2BPM.png" height="640" width="428" /></a></div><br /><br />http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/11/d23-to-phase-out-silver-memberships-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-6625539600940780105Fri, 10 Oct 2014 11:22:00 +00002014-10-10T07:22:00.963-04:00EpcotFrozenMalestromNorwayPhoto FridayPhoto Friday: Farewell to a bear<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mo22uXkEGao/VDfAm57Zc7I/AAAAAAAAApI/ufz6UjW2iXc/s1600/pf-malestrom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mo22uXkEGao/VDfAm57Zc7I/AAAAAAAAApI/ufz6UjW2iXc/s1600/pf-malestrom2.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click for larger view</td></tr></tbody></table>It's Friday and you know what that means!!! Photo time!<br /><br />With the closing of Malestrom earlier this week, I wanted to say goodbye to one of my favorite parts of this attraction - the giant polar bear that you speed by as you go "back, back, over the falls..." and then stare at as you pass into the next show scene.&nbsp;<br /><br />We can only hope this big guy will find his way into Arendelle.<br /><br /><br />http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/10/photo-friday-farewell-to-bear.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-1970795277530804446Thu, 09 Oct 2014 00:55:00 +00002014-10-08T21:09:35.971-04:00Another chance to win a Disney tripAs you know, I'm a fan of entering sweepstakes to win Disney trips -- and as some of you know, I did win one Disney trip back in 2009.<br /><br />So when I run across opportunities for you to win a Disney vacation, I feel I need to share.&nbsp; This one is presented by the rental car company, Alamo (which, by the way, offers discounts to annual passholders).&nbsp; This contest is open until Nov. 2, so good luck!<br /><br />Here's a news release from Alamo:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Alamo Rent A Car, the official rental car of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, is offering the chance to win vacations this fall with its “From Coast to Castle” sweepstakes. From now until November 2, 2014, participants can visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlamoRentACar/?sk=app_319017291589559">Alamo’s Facebook page</a> or the <a href="http://www.fromcoasttocastle.com/">From Coast to Castle website</a> to enter daily for a chance to win their choice of one of the following three unique Disney vacations:<br /><br />Disney Cruise Line Prize Package: Climb aboard the Disney Magic for a seven-night cruise vacation experience unlike any other. This package for four includes round-trip airfare, complimentary onboard dining experiences, pre-paid gratuities, a $500 Visa gift card, a $500 Disney Gift Card and more.<br /><br />Walt Disney World Resort Prize Package: Enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience for four at the Walt Disney World Resort, complete with round-trip airfare, seven nights' accommodations at a Walt Disney World Resort deluxe hotel, four seven-day Magic Your Way tickets with Park Hopper Option, a Tour Guide for up to six hours, a $500 Visa gift card, a $500 Disney Gift Card and more.<br /><br />Disneyland Resort Prize Package: Journey to Anaheim, Calif., for an adventure for four at the Disneyland Resort. The vacation package includes round-trip airfare, seven nights' accommodations at a Disneyland Resort deluxe hotel, four seven-day Park Hopper tickets, a Tour Guide for up to six hours, a $500 Visa gift card, a $500 Disney Gift Card and more.<br /><br />“We know that many families want to experience the magic of a Disney vacation, but with so many great Disney destinations available, we wanted to give the winners a choice,” said Rob Connors, assistant vice president of brand marketing for Alamo. “So whether their dream vacation is aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship, or on a trip to Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort, we’re letting the lucky winners decide.”<br /><br />The sweepstakes features eight weekly entry periods with one winner selected each week and runs September 8 – November 2, 2014.<br /><br />Participants can enter the sweepstakes three times per day. Alamo Rent A Car is also offering three easy ways to earn bonus entries:<br /><br />Design a Postcard: After registering for the sweepstakes, participants will be given the option of earning up to three additional entries per day by creating Disney-themed postcards. Registrants can follow the links and instructions to choose their vacation (Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, or Disney Cruise Line), upload a photograph to the postcard frame, and decorate their postcard.<br />Tell A Friend Program: After finishing a postcard design, participants can submit the names and email addresses of up to three friends with whom to share their postcard and details about the “From Coast to Castle” sweepstakes. For each referral of up to three friends, participants earn one additional entry per weekly entry period.<br />Share on Twitter: Sweepstakes registrants will be given one bonus entry per weekly entry period for sharing the sweepstakes on Twitter.<br /><br />For more information and a copy of the official rules, visit the Alamo Rent A Car “From Coast to Castle” sweepstakes website at <a href="http://www.fromcoasttocastle.com/">www.fromcoasttocastle.com</a>.</blockquote>http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/10/another-chance-to-win-disney-trip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-7924527139305328147Fri, 03 Oct 2014 11:07:00 +00002014-10-03T07:07:33.721-04:00backlot tourDisney's Hollywood StudiosPhoto FridayPhoto Friday: Catastrophy Canyon no more<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Hu4YG8cfHw/VC6CmRFzRDI/AAAAAAAAAo4/SCVKjwVAuv8/s1600/PF-catastrophycanyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Hu4YG8cfHw/VC6CmRFzRDI/AAAAAAAAAo4/SCVKjwVAuv8/s1600/PF-catastrophycanyon.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click for a larger view</td></tr></tbody></table>It's time for another Photo Friday!<br /><br />With the recent closing of the Backlot Tour at Disney Hollywood Studios, I thought I'd share a photo of one of the great moments of this attraction.&nbsp; While I'm eager to see what's next for the studios, I will miss this scene from the Backlot Tour where guests got an up-close experience of a major special effects shot.&nbsp; I especially enjoyed seeing the shock on people's faces just after the moment you see here when tons of water appears to pour over the ride vehicle.&nbsp;<br /><br />Farewell Backlot Tour!http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/10/photo-friday-catastrophy-canyon-no-more.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-1296953124899333014Wed, 01 Oct 2014 02:28:00 +00002014-09-30T22:28:44.590-04:00Animal KingdomDivineTip TuesdayTip Tuesday: Finding Divine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JnT4wzC6fOI/VCtkszoh4lI/AAAAAAAAAoo/m7Je2t0rYj0/s1600/pf-divine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JnT4wzC6fOI/VCtkszoh4lI/AAAAAAAAAoo/m7Je2t0rYj0/s1600/pf-divine.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div><br /><br />Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!<br /><br />This week, we're heading to Disney Animal Kingdom (Captains - this is for you!) to talk about one of my favorite hidden treasures - Divine!<br /><br />If you've never seen Divine, and she can be easy to miss, you're missing out on one of the best examples of live character entertainment in all of Animal Kingdom.&nbsp; As you can see from the photo above, Divine is a cast member on stilts dressed all in leaves and other foliage.&nbsp; Her gangly shape is barely humanoid in form, so, I suspect that's why some people pass her by.<br /><br />She often can be found along the pathway between Africa and Asia.&nbsp; This photo was taken of Divine near the Africa side of this pathway.&nbsp; She tends to hide in areas with a lot of foliage, so it's easier for her to blend in.&nbsp; Her "appearances" often are listed in the Animal Kingdom times guides, so be sure to check that out so you know when to keep an eye out.&nbsp; Don't think you're going to get a photo with Divine, she's not that kind of character and, obviously, she doesn't do autographs.<br /><br />If you do run across Divine, be sure to stay and people watch for a bit.&nbsp; You'll be surprised how many people will pass right by.&nbsp; Also be sure to pay attention to how she moves.&nbsp; The cast member really does go fully into character, making slow, vine-like movements.&nbsp; You could almost imagine this really is a creature made of vines.<br /><br />On your next visit to Animal Kingdom, take a few minutes and appreciate the incredible performance of Divine - she's one more example of how Disney takes the theme park experience to a whole new level.http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/09/tip-tuesday-finding-divine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-6956372006441688502Thu, 25 Sep 2014 00:11:00 +00002014-09-24T20:11:49.737-04:00EpcotFrozenMalestromTip TuesdayWorld ShowcaseTip Tuesday - dealing with changes at WDW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrknT_XJgeg/VCNWCGEXmLI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/Y-TYpx3bBac/s1600/malestrom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrknT_XJgeg/VCNWCGEXmLI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/Y-TYpx3bBac/s1600/malestrom1.jpg" /></a></div><i>You are not the first to pass this way... but soon, you could be the last...</i><br /><br />On this week's Tip Tuesday, I'm opening Pandora's Box.&nbsp; Yep, I'm going to talk about the changes coming to Epcot.&nbsp; There have been a lot of strong opinions about the recently announced Frozen attraction that will replace Malestrom in Epcot along with the new slate of live entertainment coming to World Showcase (replacing very popular attractions like Off Kilter).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-73UbftJy7aM/VCNWEj5wbuI/AAAAAAAAAoY/MZqRcrBQYMM/s1600/malestrom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-73UbftJy7aM/VCNWEj5wbuI/AAAAAAAAAoY/MZqRcrBQYMM/s1600/malestrom2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>So here's the deal:&nbsp; Walt Disney World is always changing.&nbsp; That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, just look at all the changes that came to the Magic Kingdom with the expansion of Fantasyland (with great fanfare, I might add).&nbsp; So why is there so much backlash about changes to Epcot and is that ire justified?&nbsp;<br /><br />Before you get your hackles up, hear me out.&nbsp; Let me start by asking myself a few questions.<br /><br /><b>Me:&nbsp; Are you in favor of the changes to the live entertainment acts in World Showcase?</b><br /><i>Me:&nbsp; I'm not sure yet.&nbsp; I want to see what Disney brings in before I decide.</i><br /><b>Me:&nbsp; Are you in favor of the changes to Malestrom?</b><br /><i>Me:&nbsp; I'm not sure yet.&nbsp; I want to see what Disney does before I decide.</i><br /><b>Me:&nbsp; Well do you think Magic Bands are a good idea?</b><br /><i>Me:&nbsp; I'm not sure yet.&nbsp; I want to have more time to try them out before I decide.</i><br /><br /><br />Do you sense a theme here?&nbsp; The point is that before we go and bash some of the new ideas proposed by Disney, I think we need to give things a chance.&nbsp; To put it simply, I trust Disney to do what is best to make the parks as successful as they can be.&nbsp; Remember, Disney is in the business to make money along with making guests happy.&nbsp; Sometimes those two goals work hand in hand and sometimes they work against each other.<br /><br />So while I may have some reservations about some of the proposed changes coming to Epcot, and I'll share them in a second, I also trust Disney to make sure that changes have the same level of quality and guest appeal as that which is being replaced.<br /><br />So what are my reservations about these changes?&nbsp;<br /><br />Well, I'm fine with changing Malestrom to a Frozen attraction.&nbsp; The Snow Queen story (Frozen is based on the Hans Christian Anderson story of the Snow Queen) has it's origins in Scandinavian culture, so it makes sense that the Norway pavilion would be home to a Frozen attraction.&nbsp; I'm not as fine with the entire Norway pavilion being changed to become the city of Arendelle.&nbsp; The Norway pavilion should, in my opinion, still tell the story of Norway.&nbsp; I trust that Disney will keep the "spirit of Norway" alive in the pavilion.&nbsp; As I said above, I want to see what Disney does before I decide if this is a good change or not.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mfwnPLUWScc/VAHB3ikm5pI/AAAAAAAAAoE/FZl0EzJqfVw/s1600/pf-offkilter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mfwnPLUWScc/VAHB3ikm5pI/AAAAAAAAAoE/FZl0EzJqfVw/s1600/pf-offkilter.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>As for the entertainment changes coming to World Showcase, I am cautiously optimistic that the new acts will be at least as good as the ones departing, especially Off Kilter.&nbsp; I think the reason so many hardcore fans are upset about this change is that these acts have been in World Showcase for so long that people have developed a deep loyalty for these acts.&nbsp; I can understand that there are plenty of reasons for acts to leave and new ones to come in.&nbsp; To be honest, there is a time where it's time for fresh content.&nbsp; How many of you are starting to say it's time for Wishes to end and a new fireworks show to come to the Magic Kingdom?&nbsp; Same thing applies here.&nbsp; New isn't always bad.&nbsp; Yes, I had the same reaction many of you did when I read that Off Kilter is being replaced by some sort of "lumberjack" show.&nbsp; Many of you immediately thought of the "I'm a Lumberjack and that's OK" song from Monty Python.&nbsp; It's ok to admit it - I did.&nbsp; I trust that Disney will ensure that the new shows will be just as high quality.&nbsp;<br /><br />So when the next announcement comes from Disney, and I expect some whoppers at the D23 Expo in August, let's all take a deep breath and give these new ideas a chance before we rush to judgement.<br /><br />Alright, I've had my say -- I'm sure some of you are dying to throw in your comments so now's the time -- go for it!&nbsp; Post your comments below!http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/09/tip-tuesday-dealing-with-changes-at-wdw.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-457085850174492622Wed, 03 Sep 2014 02:13:00 +00002014-09-02T22:13:22.043-04:00Full-MarathonHalf-MarathonMarathon weekendRunDisneyTip TuesdayTip Tuesday: The "intimate" details of race planning<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOyibEtvi-A/U_QPkW5YngI/AAAAAAAAAnc/4KWWeXZuZAM/s1600/marathon-preracemap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOyibEtvi-A/U_QPkW5YngI/AAAAAAAAAnc/4KWWeXZuZAM/s1600/marathon-preracemap.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click for larger view.</td></tr></tbody></table>Welcome back to another Tip Tuesday.&nbsp;<br /><br />This week I'm continuing my series of tips about the pre-race area during RunDisney events at Walt Disney World.<br /><br />Ok, so it's time to get intimate - and I do mean intimate.&nbsp; We're going to talk about pee, poop and private parts, so if you'd rather not go there, now's your time to move to another page.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I won't mind.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Really.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's ok.<br /><br /><br /><br />If you're reading this, then you're probably ok with this week's topics, so off we go!<br /><br />One of the most important things to do at the pre-race area is to make sure you use a bathroom (porta-pottie in most cases) before you get into your corral.&nbsp; Now here's a really big tip for you.&nbsp; DON'T bother lining up for the first porta-potties that you see once you pass through the runners only zone.&nbsp; Take a look at the map above.&nbsp; Those areas in red generally are where Disney places porta-potties.&nbsp; Notice that there is a big group just after you enter the runners only area.&nbsp; This is where most runners will line up (I've seen 20 people or more in a line for a single porta-pottie).&nbsp; There is a smaller second area as you turn to the left and head down the path toward the corrals.&nbsp; These porta-potties are usually far less crowded.&nbsp; So skip the first set and venture on a bit.&nbsp;<br /><br />Speaking of pee and poop -- you'll probably need to do so while you're out on the course, especially for the longer races.&nbsp; While there are porta-potties along the race, it's much less stressful to have access to a real bathroom.&nbsp; There are a few opportunities during the race, usually in the parks, where runners can go off the course briefly to hit a regular bathroom.&nbsp; There are three good places to do so in the Magic Kingdom.&nbsp; The first is as you're passing Mickey's Star Traders - there is a bathroom within steps of the course.&nbsp; The second is as you're passing through Frontierland, there is a bathroom located in one of the two corridors that connect Frontierland and Adventureland.&nbsp; The third is just before heading out of Frontierland.&nbsp; Take the back path from Frontierland to the restrooms located at Pirates of the Caribbean - it's not far away.&nbsp;<br /><br />In Animal Kingdom, there are two opportunities - the first is as you pass Kali River Rapids and the second is as you pass Finding Nemo:&nbsp; The Musical.&nbsp; In Hollywood Studios, there is a bathroom as you pass behind what was the American Idol Experience.&nbsp; A second easy-to-reach bathroom is located to the left as you get to the Crossroads before exiting the park.<br /><br />By the time you get to Epcot, you're very near the end, but the good news is that you're running along World Showcase from the UK pavilion all the way around to the entrance, so there are a bunch of restrooms along the way - just about one in each pavilion.<br /><br />One last note about pee.&nbsp; During those pit stops, do be sure to keep an eye on the color of your pee.&nbsp; I know this sounds gross, but it is important.&nbsp; If your urine is gold or even light orange in color, you are getting seriously dehydrated and you need to drink a lot right away.&nbsp; Dehydration is no fun at all - ask Len Testa sometime.<br /><br />Ok, enough with the bathroom stuff.&nbsp; Now it's time to talk about your private parts (see, I said we were getting intimate).&nbsp; The fact is, running is a sport where parts of your body are moving all the time.&nbsp; Webster defines "chafing" as "to cause soreness or damage by rubbing against something."&nbsp; When you're running, your skin is rubbing against things like clothes and other parts of your skin.&nbsp; So it's very important to guard against severe chafing, which can bleed (trust me on this one).<br /><br />It's important to use some sort of anti-chafing product, such as Glide.&nbsp; Men and women should use this on the butt crack, on the chest/breasts and nipples and on the underarms and perhaps inside each thigh (if not wearing running tights).&nbsp; Women also should use Glide on the cleavage area, especially for women with larger breasts.&nbsp; I have heard of some people actually taping down their nipples and/or using bandages to avoid severe chafing.&nbsp; Use whatever works for you.<br /><br />So why am I discussing this in a post about the pre-race area? These are some of the things you may need to do while you're in the pre-race area and don't be surprised to see people lubing up before the race.<br /><br />Well, I think that just about covers everything for the pre-race area.&nbsp; I'll talk more about some tips during the start and during the race in future posts.&nbsp; Until then, keep up the training!<br /><br /><br /><br />http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/09/tip-tuesday-intimate-details-of-race.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-68936602608022453Sat, 30 Aug 2014 12:30:00 +00002014-08-30T08:30:58.826-04:00EpcotPhoto FridayWorld ShowcasePhoto Friday: Off Kilter about changes to Epcot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mfwnPLUWScc/VAHB3ikm5pI/AAAAAAAAAoA/Kv3SCFadSWo/s1600/pf-offkilter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mfwnPLUWScc/VAHB3ikm5pI/AAAAAAAAAoA/Kv3SCFadSWo/s1600/pf-offkilter.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Time for another Photo Friday!<br /><br />With the recent announcement that several live attractions in Epcot will be leaving in September, I wanted to share a shot of what I think is, and soon will be "was." the best live attraction in World Showcase - Off Kilter.&nbsp; Back in November, 2011 (<a href="http://www.wdwradio.com/2011/11/epcot-live-music-show-249-november-20-2011/">show# 249</a>), I joined Lou Mongello on the WDW Radio Show to talk about the best live music in World Showcase.<br /><br />So if you have a chance to get out to Epcot in the next few weeks, I'd recommend catching one more show of Off Kilter and several other World Showcase live acts, because they will be gone soon.<br /><br />What's coming next?&nbsp; Well, Disney isn't saying much right now, other than to say that Off Kilter will be replaced by a "lumberjack show."&nbsp; Not sure what that really means, so we'll just have to wait and see.http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/08/photo-friday-off-kilter-about-changes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-1739411141958138418Wed, 27 Aug 2014 01:45:00 +00002014-08-26T21:45:45.306-04:00EpcotFull-MarathonHalf-MarathonMarathon weekendTip TuesdayTip Tuesday: The morning of the race - part 2 - the pre-race area<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOyibEtvi-A/U_QPkW5YngI/AAAAAAAAAnc/4KWWeXZuZAM/s1600/marathon-preracemap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOyibEtvi-A/U_QPkW5YngI/AAAAAAAAAnc/4KWWeXZuZAM/s1600/marathon-preracemap.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click for larger view.</td></tr></tbody></table>Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!&nbsp; Last week, I talked about <a href="http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/08/tip-tuesday-morning-of-race-part-1.html">transportation to the pre-race area</a> (seen in yellow on the map above).&nbsp; This week, we're going to talk more about the pre-race area and some ways to avoid some common headaches and some of the planning decisions that need to be made ahead of time.<br /><br />There are several activities taking place during the pre-race area.&nbsp; The biggest activity is the race retreat (half and full marathons only).&nbsp; This is an optional hard-ticketed event that starts at 3 a.m. and sells out nearly as quickly as the races themselves.&nbsp; The race retreat offers runners some useful pre-race benefits, most importantly a heated environment so runners don't have to stand out in the cold morning air (and those pre-dawn mornings can get quite chilly in early January).&nbsp; Other features of the race retreat include bagels, fruit, coffee and sports drinks, private restrooms, padded stretching area, Disney character meet and greets and a separate first aid station.<br /><br />The race retreat can by a bit pricey.&nbsp; For the 2015 marathon weekend, the cost is $120 for each race (or $225 for Goofy or Dopey runners).&nbsp; It is a very popular option and can be a bit crowded.&nbsp; After each event the race retreat offers brunch and internet access to check results.<br /><br />The race retreat isn't the only thing going on at the pre-race area - there are DJ's playing music and lots and lots of groups all meeting up before the race.&nbsp; The major difference here is the weather - you're out in it.&nbsp; If it's especially cold and/or raining (or snowing - it's happened!) then it can be an uncomfortable and unpleasant wait until the time comes to walk to the corrals.<br /><br />This is where you need to do some planning.&nbsp; Do you think the race retreat will be worth it?&nbsp; Will having some food and a warm tent be worth the price?&nbsp; Are you willing to run the risk with the weather?&nbsp; These are all questions you need to consider as you're planning your pre-race.&nbsp; Also, if you are going to skip the race retreat and wait outside, do you need to bring extra clothing or blankets to stay warm while you wait (knowing that you'll have to do something with them once the race starts - either get rid of them or hand off to a waiting spectator down the road).&nbsp; Again, this is where runners have to do some planning in order to be prepared.<br /><br />What do I do?&nbsp; I personally don't go to the race retreats.&nbsp; Instead, I join the WDW Radio Running Team as we meet up before each race.&nbsp; Depending on the weather conditions and temperature, I'll bring an extra old or cheap sweatshirt and sweatpants to wear until just before the start of the race.&nbsp; I'll then toss those to the side once I start running.&nbsp; But, I'm getting ahead of myself.&nbsp; I'll talk more about how the corrals work in a future post.<br /><br />Next time - I'll discuss the walk and a very important potty break!http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/08/tip-tuesday-morning-of-race-part-2-pre.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-5317568005658139775Fri, 22 Aug 2014 11:53:00 +00002014-08-22T07:53:14.850-04:00Disney California AdventureMagic KingdomPhoto FridayUnder the Sea - Journey of the Little MermaidPhoto Friday: A photographic comparison of Under the Sea - Journey of the Little MermaidWelcome to another Photo Friday!<br /><br />This week it's 2 for 1 day!&nbsp; Well, sort of.<br /><br />During my May trip to Disneyland, I noted a change to the main cavern portion of the Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction at Disney California Adventure.&nbsp; The lighting was drastically different than the Magic Kingdom version.&nbsp; Later, I found out Disney was testing a different lighting level to see if it improved the attraction.&nbsp; The main reason, as I understand it, was to eliminate guests seeing production elements such as light instruments, projectors, etc.<br /><br />So see for yourself - which do you like better?<br /><br />Here is the Magic Kingdom version (this shot is from June, 2013):<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ax9SMmY-Ddw/U_cuphU66pI/AAAAAAAAAno/JZcEmOdYOgQ/s1600/pf-mermaid-MK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ax9SMmY-Ddw/U_cuphU66pI/AAAAAAAAAno/JZcEmOdYOgQ/s1600/pf-mermaid-MK.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click for larger view</td></tr></tbody></table><br />and this is a similar shot from the California Adventure version (this shot is from May, 2014):<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVH5z-6YZxM/U_cu2HLXoQI/AAAAAAAAAnw/W-HdUp5gUZ8/s1600/pf-mermaid-DCA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVH5z-6YZxM/U_cu2HLXoQI/AAAAAAAAAnw/W-HdUp5gUZ8/s1600/pf-mermaid-DCA.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click for larger view</td></tr></tbody></table>So which version do you like better?&nbsp; Post your thoughts in the comments section below!http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/08/photo-friday-photographic-comparison-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-267822185242085460Wed, 20 Aug 2014 03:09:00 +00002014-08-19T23:09:50.089-04:00Full-MarathonHalf-MarathonMarathon weekendRunDisneyTip TuesdayTip Tuesday: The morning of the race - part 1 - getting there<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SbfZroGcuo/U_QGPyqu_sI/AAAAAAAAAnA/aXWxw952PCI/s1600/wdwradiorunningteam-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SbfZroGcuo/U_QGPyqu_sI/AAAAAAAAAnA/aXWxw952PCI/s1600/wdwradiorunningteam-2012.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WDW Radio Running Team before the 2012 Marathon</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!<br /><br />Well, there's just over five months to go before the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.&nbsp; While I've still got a lot of training to do, it's also time to start talking about some more tips about participating in a RunDisney event.<br /><br />I wanted to focus on the morning of the race (or races in the case of the Goofy and Dopey folks like me).&nbsp; There is quite a bit of planning that runners need to think about prior to race morning.&nbsp; I'm a visual guy, so how about a quick map (this is a rough approximation of locations and is not official).&nbsp; This week, I'll focus on getting to the pre-race area.&nbsp; In future posts, I'll talk about some things to keep in mind while you're getting ready for the start.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOyibEtvi-A/U_QPkW5YngI/AAAAAAAAAnY/QnpI-mDeeQo/s1600/marathon-preracemap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOyibEtvi-A/U_QPkW5YngI/AAAAAAAAAnY/QnpI-mDeeQo/s1600/marathon-preracemap.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click for larger view</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br />First, runners need to try to arrive at the pre-race area located in the eastern-most section of the Epcot parking lot, shown in yellow on the map, by around 4 a.m. at the latest.&nbsp; Disney says runners must be in the corrals by 5 a.m. or they will not be allowed to race.<br /><br /><b>Runners staying on-property:</b> <br />For runners staying on-property, this is pretty easy.&nbsp; Disney offers bus transportation from just about every resort starting as early as 3 a.m. each race morning (depending on the race).&nbsp; For a detailed schedule for each race, see the <a href="http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/plan/#transportation">RunDisney website</a>.&nbsp; From my past experience, these are usually touring buses, not standard Disney transit buses.&nbsp; It's important to remember that these RunDisney events are VERY popular, so there will literally be tens of thousands of people (often more) all trying to get to the pre-race area.&nbsp; What does this mean for you?&nbsp; It means that buses can fill up FAST, so you would be wise to get down to your bus stop at your hotel by around 3:15 a.m. (4:15 a.m. for the 5K) so that you can ensure you won't run into any issues and end up missing the start.&nbsp; Disney recommends runners be on a bus by no later than 4 a.m. to avoid missing the race start.<br /><br />Buses will drop off runners at the front of Epcot.&nbsp; Runners will then have to walk to the pre-race area.<br /><br />Oh, if you're staying at a monorail resort, the monorails will start around 3 a.m. each morning&nbsp; You'll need to take the resort monorail to the TTC and then take the Epcot monorail to the front of the park and walk to the starting area.&nbsp; For my 2010 half marathon, this was surprisingly easy and painless.&nbsp; This is one benefit of staying a monorail resort -- easy transportation and no buses.&nbsp; Just like the buses, I recommend being on a monorail by no later than 3:15 a.m.<br /><br /><b>Runners staying off-property:</b><br />If you're not staying on property, you'll need to plan to arrive at the Epcot entrance no later than 4 a.m.&nbsp; Arrive any later, and you'll run the risk of missing the start, which would be a very bad thing considering how expensive these races are.&nbsp; Therefore, you'll need to carefully think about how much time you need to allow to get to Epcot and add <u><i><b>LOTS</b></i></u> of additional time for traffic delays (which there will be due to road closures).<br /><br />So, you've made it to the pre-race area!&nbsp; Now what do you do?&nbsp; And what else do you need to think about before the race starts?&nbsp; I'll discuss that in a future post.&nbsp;<br /><br />Until then, keep up the training!http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/08/tip-tuesday-morning-of-race-part-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813012897316323239.post-6057946503485474156Sat, 16 Aug 2014 01:44:00 +00002014-08-15T21:44:11.179-04:00Animal KingdomPhoto FridayPhoto Friday: Going ape for smartphones?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhvZ1hWbvT4/U-62aIcZTLI/AAAAAAAAAmw/hAbVUeq1lek/s1600/pf-AKgorilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhvZ1hWbvT4/U-62aIcZTLI/AAAAAAAAAmw/hAbVUeq1lek/s1600/pf-AKgorilla.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Welcome to another Photo Friday!<br /><br />I was going back through some of my Animal Kingdom photos today and I ran across this shot of a gorilla along the Pangani Exploration Trail.&nbsp; While the photo itself isn't all that compelling, there was something about the way he was sitting and looking at his hands that made it look as if he was using a smartphone.<br /><br />So here's where you come in -- it's caption time!&nbsp; Imagine that our gorilla friend above is doing something with a smartphone - what caption would you put on the photo?&nbsp; Post in the comments below!http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2014/08/photo-friday-going-ape-for-smartphones.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Phoenix Willowvich)0